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Yelich, Valaika homer in Marlins' rain-shortened win

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Top Prospects: Yelich, MIA 0:35

2013 Top Prospects: Christian Yelich has an advanced approach at the plate that could lead to batting titles in the future

By Rhett Bollinger
/
MLB.com |

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Top prospect Christian Yelich and Chris Valaika homered to help lead the Marlins to a 6-2 win over the Twins in a rain-shortened game that was called after five innings Monday at Hammond Stadium.

The Marlins used a four-run second inning against Twins right-hander Kevin Correia to their advantage, as the first six batters reached base that inning. Nick Green brought home the first run on an RBI single before Kyle Skipworth drew a bases-loaded walk and Gorkys Hernandez plated two runs with a single to center field.

Valaika gave Miami another run in the third on a solo blast off Correia. Correia, making his fifth Grapefruit League start, gave up five runs on five hits and two walks over four innings to see his spring ERA increase to 6.46.

"It just went awry there for a few hitters," Correia said. "That was about it. Luckily, I was eventually able to work my way out of there."

Yelich, the No. 13 overall prospect according to MLB.com, later blasted a solo homer of his own off Twins reliever Tim Wood in the fifth. The homer ended up in the pond about 100 feet past the fence in right field.

"It was a hanging slider, and I caught it good," Yelich said. "I don't feel super locked in. I felt pretty good today, but it's Spring Training, so it still comes and goes. Today, I felt pretty good. It started off good, he made some good pitches in my second at-bat, and I caught him on the third one."

The Twins scored twice off Marlins right-hander Nathan Eovaldi in the first inning. Aaron Hicks drew a leadoff walk before Brian Dozier launched a two-run blast. It was the first homer of the spring for Dozier.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer also made his return after playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and went 2-for-3 with two singles.

Up next: The Marlins return to the east coast of Florida on Tuesday to play the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 p.m. ET for the sixth time this spring, available on MLB.TV. Jacob Turner, competing for a spot in the Marlins' rotation, will make what manager Mike Redmond calls "a big start," his third outing of the spring. He will face Cardinals pitching prospect Shelby Miller.